BRITISH tourists have been warned to "remain vigilant" in Turkey where at least 39 New Year's Eve revellers were killed and 69 injured by a gunman dressed as Santa Claus.

At least 15 foreign nationals have been identified among the dead after the massacre at the popular Reina nightclub in a trendy district of Istanbul.

The Foreign Office said staff were still trying to find out whether any British nationals were killed or injured in the terror attack at the club where more than 500 revellers had just celebrated the start of 2017.

A spokesman said: "We are in touch with the local authorities following reports of an incident at a night club in Istanbul."

He said UK tourists should follow the advice of local authorities in Turkey while remaining vigilant.

Unfortunately he rained bullets in a very cruel and merciless way on innocent people who were there to celebrate New Year's and have fun

Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin

Turkish interior minister Suleyman Soylu said the gunman was still at large after striking alone in the attack which he described as “a massacre, a truly inhuman savagery".

Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin said the attack began when the gunman, armed with a long-barrelled weapon, killed a policeman and a civilian outside the club.

He then went into the club in the Ortakoy district and fired at partygoers at around 1.45am local time.

Mr Sahin said said: "Unfortunately he rained bullets in a very cruel and merciless way on innocent people who were there to celebrate New Year's and have fun.”

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Relatives of victims of the Istanbul nightclub massacre comfort each other

Five of the dead have been identified as Turkish nationals, up to four of which were working in the club, while authorities are yet to identify 19 others.

Clubbers reportedly jumped into the waters of the Bosporus strait to escape the attacker.

Eyewitness Sinem Uyanik said her husband Lutfu Uyanik was wounded in the attack.

She said: ”Before I could understand what was happening, my husband fell on top me.

”I had to lift several bodies from on top of me before I could get out."

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Relatives of victims of the nightclub shooting gather at a local hospital

Istanbul explosions: 38 killed, 155 wounded in twin blasts

Mon, December 12, 2016

Dec 10th: Two blasts - a car bomb and suicide bombing - have killed 38 people and wounded 155 outside a football stadium in Istanbul. Turkey said on Sunday that Kurdish militants may be responsible for this apparent coordinated attack on police.